Apparatus for separating seeds.



PATENIED JULY 17, 1906. E. POTTER.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEEDS.

APPLICATION FILED 811F129, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. 9 will!!! l N 0- 826,191. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

- E. POTTER.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEEDS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Emmmm affording 15. POTTER.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEEDS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 190i.

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PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

. UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDSON POTTER, OF GREENSBURG, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

To all whom' it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDsoN POTTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greensburg, in the countyof Decatur and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Separating Seeds, of whichthe following is a specification.

' After careful investigation I have found that certain of the obnoxiousseed found in desirable seed are mucilaginous in their nature, 'whilethat which it is desired to save does not particularlyshowthischaracteristic. This peculiarity is found particularly in buckthorn,(the seed of a weed that grows in clover and which becomes mixedtherewith,) and the invention hereinafter described in the claimsis-primarily employed for the separation of the same, though notnecessarily limited to these two seeds, as said invention may proveuseful in connectlon with many other kinds. p

The aim of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus which makes useof the difmucilaginous substance of one kind sufficiently to cause itsadherence to the belt, and after the same has been dried this seed willstill stick thereto, while the other, not being subj ect to the sameaction, will remain'free. The latter is thereupon permitted to gravitatefrom the belt and afterward the adhering seed is scraped from said belt.action, beside securing the attachment of one class of seed, furthermoreprevents the moisture deleteriously affecting the other.

The I preferred embodiment of the apparatus by which the method isaccomplished is illustrated in the accompanying drawings;

but the invention is not limited to the exact structure shown, as willbe apparent upon an inspection of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of one side of themachine or apparatus.

Fig. 2 is-a'similar view of the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 4-4 of-Fig. 1.

of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional viewthrough the machine. Fig. 6 is a detail'view of a portionofthe carrier-belt.

The quick drying ably disposed concentric thereto.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawmgs.

In the embodiment illustrated a frame is employed comprising side plates7, supported at one end by standards 8 and connected at the other end toa casing having end walls 9 and a partially cylindrical wall 10, saidwall having a top extension 11, provided with a hinged cover extendingpartially over the side plates 7. Adoor 12 is located in the side of thecasing, while the bottom is provided with an outlet 13.

Spaced transversely-disposed liquid-reservoirs 14 and 15 are locatedbetween the side plates 7 contiguous to their lower edges, and atransversely-inclined chute 17 is arranged between the same. Anotherchute 18 is disposed between the reservoir'14 and the casing. Water isfurnished to the reservoirs 14 and 15 by means of a supply-pipe 19,having Valve controlled communications 20 with said reservoirs. Adrain-pipe 21 has valve communications 22 with the lower portions of thereservoirs, while an overflow-pipe 23 connects the upper portion of thereservoir 14 and the pipe 21. the frame, has its lower portion locatedinthe reservoir 15, while another roller 25 is mounted above and has itslower portion disposed in the reservoir 14. The roller 25 has gudgeons26,that project through the side plates 7 and are located in boxes 27',communimounted in cars 29, secured to the side plates 7. The rods areurged downwardly by means of springs 30, coiled thereupon, with theirupper ends bearing against the ears 29 and.

their lower ends bearing against enlargements 31, secured to the rods.An idlerroller 32 is located above the chute 17, preferably at one sideof the center of the same, while another idler 33 is journaled above thechute 13. Extending over the rollers 25, 32, and 35 between the sideplates 7 is a horizontally-disposed platen 34.

Located concentrically within the casing 9 10 of the frame is astationary tubular shell or casing 35, constituting an axle upon whichthe hub 36 of a drum 37 is revolubly mounted, the annular face of saiddrum being spaced from the walls 10 of the casing and prefer- Roller- Aroller 24, journaled in i IIO ' 56, carrying a drive-pulley 57.

bearings 38 are interposed between the hub 36 and tubular shell 35.Means are employed for heating the drum, said means consisting of afurnace having a tubular fire-box 39 located in the casing of the shell35 and removable therefrom. Guide-rods 40, projecting from the inner endof the fire box, eX- tend through one side wall of the casing, and oneof the rods is provided with a rack 41, engaged by a pinion 42, carriedupon an actuating-shaft 43, having a crank-handle 44. The end of thefire-box 39 having the guide-rods is provided with an opening 45,constituting a smoke-outlet, a similar opening 46 being located in' thehead of 'the tubular casing and communicating with a smoke stack 47,mounted at one side of the frame. The opposite end' of the fire-box hasa door 48, provided with a suitable damper 49, while an ash-receiver 50is mounted on the wall 9 below the same. A grate 51, located within thefire-box, extends to a division-wall 52, arranged transversely in therear portion of the box in spaced relation to the rear end thereof.

Seed supporting or carrying means is employed in the form of an endlessbelt 53, that passes over the platen 34, through the framecasing, aboutthe drum 37, thence over the roller 33, beneath the roller 25, andconse-' quently through the reservoir 14, over the roller 32, then aboutthe roller 24, and consequently through the reservoir 15. This belt maybe of any material desired, but is preferably canvas and is maintainedin taut condi-' tion by means'of the roller 25. The belt 53 carries atits opposite side edges suitable sprocket chains 54, which engagesprocketwheels 55, carried by the ends of the drum and various rollers,whereby the movement of all is assured. The belt receives motion fromthe roller 24, which has a projecting gudgeon It will of course beunderstood that the power for driving the mechanism may be secured fromany suitable source.

The means for feedin or directing seed to the belt consists of a liopper58, mounted upon the upper ends of the standards 8 and havingseed-delivering devices 59 located beneath the same and operated by ashaft 60. The shaft 60 carries a pulley 61, about which passes a belt62, driven from the gudgeon 56, which gudgeon has a small pulley 63,that receives the belt 62. Beneath the seed-delivering devices 59 isarranged a chute-plate 64, inclined downwardly toward the belt andmounted upon a rock-shaft 65, having an arm 66 arranged at one side ofthe frame and adapted to engage a quadrant rack 67. Scrapers 68 arelocated beneath the lower stretch of the carrier-belt 53 and above thechutes 17 and 18, said scrapers being carried by rock-shafts 69, havingarms 7 0 arranged at one side of the frame and engaging quadrant racks71.

Fan-casings 72 are mounted upon the sides of the frame at the endcontiguous to the drum. These casings communicate with a transverselydisposed air shaft 73, which connects with an inlet-conduit 74,communicating with the outlet 13 of the drum-casing, as shown in Fig. 5.Beneath the outlet 13 the conduit 74 tapers downwardly and forms adischarge-hopper 75, normally closed by a downwardly-opening valve 76,said valve being held in its closed position by a spring 77. Fans 78 arelocated in the easings 72 and are both mounted on a shaft 79, drivenfrom any suitable source of power. The casings have upwardly-extendingdischarge-spouts 80.

The belt 53 is driven in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig.5. It will thus be apparent that said belt in passing about the roller24 and through the reservoir 15 will become moistened just prior to itspassage beneath the seed-directing chute 64. The mixed seed is placed ina hopper and is fed in proper volume to the chute, gravitating down thesame onto the moistened portion of the belt. The belt carries it intothe casing 9 10 and about the drum 37. Said drum being heated inconnection with the draft of air created by the fans 78 will cause thebelt to become rapidly dried; but in the meantime those seeds which aremucilaginous in their nature have become stuck to the belt because ofthe action of the moisture thereupon and will all the more stronglyadhere after they have become dry. The others, however, as soon as theyhave dried will ravitate from the belt into the casing and t encethrough the discharge-opening 13 into the hopper 75. When the weighttherein has become sufficient, the valve 76 will become opened andpermit their discharge into any suitable reservoir placed therebelow.The adhering seed, however, will be carried by the belt over the roller33 and against the first scraper 68. This will remove the greaterportion, which will gravitate into the chute 18 and be collected at thedischargespout thereof. The remainder, however, which doesnot becomedetached, will pass through the reservoir 14, where the belt isremoistened, and afterward passed over the scraper 68. This scraper notonly removes the remainder of the seed, but also efiects the cleansingof the belt from the slime and mucilaginous substance that collectsthereon. A further movement carries the portion of the belt through thereservoir of clean water 15 and thence again through the circuitdescribed.

It will be apparent that this apparatus will effect the separation ofthe difierent classes of seed mentioned by making use of their differentmucilaginous natures and that the same is carried out with ease andexpedition.

The seed, moreover, is not injured by the plication of the same and,furthermore, is rapidly removed from the heat, so that it is notaffected by the latter. The rapid drying action is secured not onlybythe heated drum, but also by the current of air maintained through thecasing surrounding said drum, the fans drawing in fresh "air andremoving that which has become laden with moisture.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a rotary drum, ofa furnace located in the drum, a carrier-belt passing around the drum,means for moistening the belt prior to its passage about the drum, andmeans for feeding seed to the belt between the moistening means anddrum.

2. In seed-separating apparatus, the com-- bination with heating meansincluding a rotary drum, of a carrier-belt passing around the drum,meansfor moistening the belt prior to its passage about the drum, andmeans for feeding seed to the belt between the moistening means and thedrum.

3. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt, ofa drum about which said belt passes and a non-rotatable furnace locatedwithin the drum.

4. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt, ofa rotary drum about which said belt passes, a furnace located within thedrum, and roller-bearings interposed between the drum and the furnace.

5. In seed-separating apparatus, the com bination with asupporting-frame, of a furnace extending through the same and having adoor at one end and a smoke-stack at the other end, of a drum revolublymounted about the furnace, and a carrier-belt passing over the drum.

6. In seed-separatingapparatus, the combination with a casing, of afire-box removably mounted in the casing, a drum revoluble about thecasing, and a carrier-belt passing over the drum.

7. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a casing, of afire-box removably mounted in the casing, means for moving the fire-box,a drum revolubly mounted on the casing, and a carrier-beltpassing aboutthe drum.

8. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a casing, of afire-box removably mounted in the casing, a rack secured to thefire-box, an actuatingpinion engaging the rack, a drum revolubly mountedon the casing, and a carrier-belt passing about the drum.

9. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a frame, of astationary casing secured transversely in the frame, a fire-boxremovably mounted in the casing, a drum revolubly mounted on the casing,roller-bearings interposed between the drum and casing, and acarrier-belt passing about the drum.

10. In seed separating apparatus, the combination with a belt, of meansfor applying moisture and seed to the belt, means for drying the beltwith the seed thereon, means for rewetting the belt, and a scraper forremoving the seed after the belt has become rewet.

11. In seed separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt,of means for applying moisture and seed to the belt, means 'for dryingthe belt with the seed thereon, a

reservoir forliquid, means for guiding the belt through the reservoir,and a scraper coacting with the belt in rear of the reservoir.

12. In seed separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt,of spaced reservoirs through which the belt passes, a scraper locatedbetween the reservoirs,means for directing seed to the belt, and a driercoacting with the belt in rear of the seed-directing means.

13. In seed separating apparatus, the combination with an endlesscarrier-belt having upper and lower stretches, of means for directingseed to the belt located above the upper stretch, and a drier locatedbetween the stretches contiguous to one end of the same, s acedreservoirs for liquid located beneath t e lower stretch, rollers forguiding the belt through the reservoirs, and scrapers 1' coacting withthe lower stretch of the belt.

14. In seed separating apparatus, the combination with a frame, of aroller located at one end of the frame, a heating-drum located at theother end of the frame, an endless carrier-belt passing about the rollerand about the drum, said belt having upper and lower stretches, meansfor feeding seed to the upper stretch of the belt, a liquid-reservoir inwhich the roller is located, another reservoir located between saidroller and the drum, a guide-roller for directing the belt through saidlatter reservoir, and scrapers coacting with the belt on opposite sidesof the guideway.

15. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt,of a heatingdrum around which the belt asses, and means for passing acurrent of air about the drum and over the belt.

16. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a carrier-belt,of a heatingdrum around which said belt passes, means for heating thedrum, a casing artially surrounding the drum, and a fan or creating acurrent of air through the space between the casing and drum. v

17. In seed separating a paratus, the combination with a revolubleheating-drum, of means for heating the same, a casing surrounding thedrum, a carrier-belt passing about the drum and through the casing,means for moistening and applying seed to the belt, and a fan havingcommunication with the casing for creating drafts of air therethrough.

18. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a drum, of acasing partially surrounding the same, a carrier-belt passing throughthe casing and around the rum, means for moistening and applying seed tothe belt, and a seed-receiver located in the casing below the drum.

19. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a revoluble drum,of a casing surrounding the same and having a seedoutlet in its lowerportion, means for heating the drum, an endless carrier-belt passingabout the drum and through the casing,

means for moistening the belt and applying seed thereto, and a fan forcreating a current of air through the casing and about the drum.

20. In seed-separating a paratus, the combination with a revoluble dium,of means for heating the same, a casing surrounding the drum and havinga valved outlet in its lower portion, a fan-casing having an inletcommunicating with the said outlet, a fan located in the casing, acarrier-belt passin through the casing and about the drum, an means formoistening and applying seed to the belt.

21. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with asupporting-frame, of a liquid-reservoir located therein, rollersjournaled on the frame, an endless carrier-belt passing about therollers, means for drying the belt, means for feeding seed thereto to,and a spring-pressed tension-roller supported in the frame and bearingagainst t e belt, said roller being located 1n the reservoir.

22. In seed-separating apparatus, the combination with a frame, one endof said frame comprising a casing, of spaced liquidreservoirs su portedin the frame, rollers journaled in t e frame and located in thereservoirs, one of said rollers being yieldingly supported, a drumlocated in the casing, means for heating the drum, a seed-outletarranged in the lower portion of the casing, a fan having communicationwith the seedoutlet, an endless carrier-belt passing about the drum androller, scrapers coacting with the belt, and seed-feeding means fordirecting grain and seed to the belt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDSON POTTER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM FLEMING, J. L. MAUDLIN.

